Howdy and a story of diagnosis!

I am 57, with adorable wife of 30 years and the last of 3 children leaving home to get married in approx 11 months time.

I have been on Insulin since early Oct last year.

I can remember when I first got diabetes (hindsight is 20:20).

It was Aug 1998 when a group of us at the airport had to go to Darwin to shift the Control Tower radio communications from one side of the runway to the other. I’d been overweight for years and disliked Darwin’s heat (this was my 18th trip there). I started drinking HEAPS of liquid – mainly milk but also Lemon Squash and all of a sudden my mouth became dry. Seem familiar?

Although the constant dryness was very annoying, I didn’t think to ask my local GP until something else cropped up approx end of June 2000. (I RARELY see a doctor).

A Fasting blood test showed HBA1c of 11.3%.

The doctor then arranged for another Fasting blood test two months later. HBA1c now 10.7%

He then wanted me to have another test a week later but having been told absolutely zero about any results or the reason to have yet another test, I never went back…..

It finally came to a head halfway through April last year.

I went to Hospital Emergency as I was having massive heart palpitations. These turned out to be nothing serious but in their on-the-spot blood test, it was found that my HBA1c was 27.1 !!!!!!

Advised STRONGLY to see a local doctor FIRST THING next morning.

Having heeded this warning, I found a GREAT local doctor who actually recognized the dangerous BS levels and actually did something about it by prescribing medication. What a change!!!!

Although this doctor specialized in diabetes, it was organized that I see an Endocrinologist 10 weeks later. Never having taken any tablets prior to this whole affair, I now had on my list Diamicron, Diaformin, Avantia, Aspirin and Lipitor. After 13 weeks my BS averaged approx 10.

The Endo said that my Pancreas is probably so damaged by the long period of uncontrolled high BS that I’d have to go onto Insulin. If my maths is still up to scratch, that means 7 years when it could have been reduced to 2 if my original doctor had told me that I had diabetes at that stage and actually did something about it. Still contemplating whether to do something about that…

So I use a Flexpen with Novomix 30 twice a day – mornings 18 and evenings 20. 7 day average BS is approx 8.0 . Should be a little lower but I’m working on it.

I was made redundant in 1999 (section closed down) weighing 93 kg. A few months ago I got down to 83 kg but I’m nearly up to 90 again – I’m told insulin tends to add weight. My wife and I ride around the block in our hilly suburb and we’ve just got an exercise bike so that I can keep up the exercise in winter. Max heart rate according to the Polar HRT is 138.

In the last couple of months I’ve developed partial pins and needles in my legs starting just below the knees and ending on the top of the foot. Its constant. Also have the side effect of Burning Feet. I have to keep my feet out from the bedcovers whether winter or not. Strange as sometimes I feel the soles of the feet and they are cold but feel if though they are melting. I go to an Opthomologist at 6 monthly intervals. So far so good. There is some old damage to the Optic nerve but not due to diabetes apparently.

This is one detailed history and I’m not at all sure whether it’s suitable or not to put on the site!

Cheers
Red

(Ed note – yep it is very suitable for this part of the site – thanks Red!!)

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